SHOPPING AND LUNCH

WOKE UP SUNDAY MORNING TO SNOW. GOOD THING I GOT TO GO SHOPPING YESTERDAY (SATURDAY).

JACKIE AND I GOT TO GO TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP ON SATURDAY. WHAT GREAT BUYS THEY HAVE, THEY HAD CHRISTMAS ITEMS, AND THEY WERE ALL ON SALE. I PASSED THEM UP, THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER INTERESTING ITEMS. I BOUGHT FOUR NEW TEA CUPS FOR EVERYDAY USE. THE PATTERN ON THE CUPS WERE VIOLETS, AND TINY FLOWERS. I PICKED UP TWO OF THE VIOLET ONES(MY FAVORITE FLOWER) AND TWO WITH TINY FLOWERS.


THEY HAD SOME SHADOW BOXED WALL DECOR, AND THEY HAD MY FAVORITE ONES WITH SEA SHELLS. SO I PICK UP A FEW OF THEM.

THEY HAD DECOUPAGE METAL ACCENTS.....I PICKED UP A WATERING CAN, AND TWO SMALL PLANTERS, AND A BUCKET. I AM GOING TO USE THE BUCKET FOR MY WASTE PAPER BASKET BY MY CRAFT TABLE. BATTERIES WENT DEAD IN MY CAMERA, SO I COULDN'T TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BASKET.
THEY HAD SOME LOVELY QUILTS, THEY WERE LIGHT IN WEIGHT, SO I BOUGHT ONE, I LOVE THE GREENS AND THE BLUES.

WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH, AND RELAXED. THEN WE WENT HOME AND HAD TEA AND COOKIES WITH THE KIDS. OH, I BOUGHT THE COOKIES THERE TOO. THEY WERE SO DELICIOUS.

MATTIE TOOK A BITE OUT OF ONE COOKIE, IT WAS FILLED WITH A CHOCOLATE FUDGE, BUT PUT IT BACK IN THE DISH.

WE DECIDED TO GO BACK ON WEDNESDAY, (TOMORROW) THE STORE IS SO BIG, WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE EVERYTHING. HOPE I FIND SOME MORE BARGAINS. RIZZI

THE LITTLE OLD LADY AND HER PRETZEL STAND

HERE IS A STORY I THOUGHT WAS CUTE, AND FUNNY.

A LITTLE OLD LADY SOLD PRETZELS ON A STREET CORNER FOR 25 CENTS EACH. EVERYDAY A YOUNG MAN WOULD LEAVE HIS OFFICE BUILDING AT LUNCH TIME, AND AS HE PASSED THE PRETZEL STAND, HE WOULD LEAVE HER A QUARTER, BUT NEVER TAKE A PRETZEL. THIS WENT ON FOR THREE YEARS. THE TWO OF THEM NEVER SPOKE. ONE DAY, AS THE YOUNG MAN PASSED THE OLD LADY'S STAND AND LEFT HIS QUARTER AS USUAL, THE PRETZEL LADY SPOKE TO HIM WITHOUT BLINKING AN EYE, SHE SAID "THEY'RE 35 CENTS NOW."

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH LEFTOVER CANDY CANES?

IT'S NOT A PERFECT HEART, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A CUTE IDEA. YOU CAN ALSO CRUNCH THEM UP AND PUT THEM ON ICE CREAM, ON A CUP CAKE, PUT ONE IN A CUP OF TEA, I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT MORE IDEAS.
HAVE A NICE DAY......................RIZZI

THE YELLOW TEAPOT

THIS YELLOW TEAPOT WAS MY MOTHER'S. SHE RECEIVED IT FROM MY SISTER-IN-LAW JOAN AS A GIFT, IT'S FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OLD. IT IS LARGE, AND DOESN'T DRIP, AND MAKES A NICE CUP OF TEA. IT HAS BEEN USED SO MANY TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER JACKIE AND I HAVE OUR TEA OF COURSE WE USE THE FAMILY TEAPOT. SO MANY MEMORIES COME ALIVE SIPPING OUR TEA. I THINK ABOUT MY SISTER-IN-LAW JOAN WHO WAS SO NICE, AND SHE WOULD BRING ITALIAN PASTRIES, AND WE WOULD ALL SIT AROUND THE DINING ROOM TABLE SEWING, CROCHETING, KNITTING, AND HAVING OUR TEA. JOAN HAS PASSED A FEW YEARS BACK, I MISS HER. MEMORIES..... THERE'S NOTHING LIKE AN OLD TEAPOT TO BRING THEM BACK. RIZZI

ALEX AND EMMA

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MEET ALEX AND EMMA. THEY WERE BORN UNDER A SHED IN THE NEIGHBORS YARD. THEY COULDN'T KEEP THEM, AND THEIR MOTHER WAS GONE. SOOOOO, WHEN THE TWINS MATTIE AND MAKAYLA SAW THEM, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. THEY HAD TO BE FED BY A BOTTLE, AND THEY BOTH DID THAT WITH THE HELP OF THEIR MOTHER, JACKIE.



THIS IS ALEX, MAKAYLA'S CAT. WE ALL THOUGHT IT WAS A MALE, SURPRISE........BUT, WE STILL CALL HER ALEX.

THIS IS EMMA, MATTIE'S CAT. SHE IS A SWEETHEART, BUT ALWAYS IN CHARGE.

THEY ARE VERY LOVABLE, AND SO PLAYFUL. THEY ARE INSIDE CAT'S, AND VERY CLEAN. THEY GO IN JENNY'S ROOM, BUT NEVER BOTHERS HER. THEY LOVE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOWS, AND THEY ARE NOT FUSSY EATERS.

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

I SAW THE MOVIE FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, AND LOVED IT. NOW I AM ABOUT TO READ THE BOOK, I'M SURE IT WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE MOVIE, BUT BEING IT WAS WRITTEN BY FANNIE FLAGG, I KNOW IT WILL BE GOOD READING. I CAN WATCH THE MOVIE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT'S ABOUT A TOWN CALLED WHISTLE STOP, AND MRS THREADGOODE SHARES MEMORIES WITH EVELYN COUCH ABOUT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE IN THE 1930s IN ALABAMA. IDGIE AND RUTH OWNED THE CAFE, AND TREATED EVERYONE WITH SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. A FULL BREAKFAST WAS 25 CENTS, AND A FULL SUPPER WAS 35 CENTS. THEY WERE NOTED FOR THEIR BBQ CHICKEN AND RIBS. THEY SAY "THE SECRET IS IN THE SAUCE." THEY NEVER TURNED ANYONE AWAY, EVEN IF THEY WERE BROKE. BUT, THERE WAS LOTS OF GOSSIP, SORROW, AND LAUGHTER, THE NEWS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES, AND AN OCCASIONAL MURDER OR TWO. WELL, I'LL LET YOU READ IT FOR YOURSELVES, OR WATCH THE MOVIE. RIZZI

"THANK YOU" DUCHESS OF TEA

BEING A FOLLOWER OF THE DUCHESS OF TEA, SHE BESTOWED A TITLE UPON ME FOR HAVING CREATIVITY, VISION, KNOWLEDGE, CHARM, AND HUMOR IN MY BLOG. SHE REQUESTED THE HONOR OF MY PRESENCE AT THE KNIGHTING CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT ROSE TEA COTTAGE. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL AWARD THAT I AM RECEIVING, AND I AM HONORED AND APPRECIATIVE TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD, "THANK YOU" DUCHESS. RIZZI

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

I CAME ACROSS SOME OLD PHOTOGRAPHS TODAY, AND THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THEM WITH YOU.



THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY MOTHER AND FATHER, EDNA, AND ANDY. MY MOM WAS A TELEPHONE OPERATOR, AND MY DAD WAS A FIREMAN IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, NJ. AFTER THEY GOT MARRIED SHE WAS A STAY AT HOME MOM. MY MOM DIED IN HER SIXTIES, AND MY DAD DIED IN HIS EIGHTIES. THEY HAD SEVEN CHILDREN TOGETHER. FOUR BOYS, AND THREE GIRLS. THEY HAD A GOOD MARRIAGE.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY FATHER, MY SISTER CAROLINE, MY SISTER MARY, WITH CINDY OUR BLACK COCKER SPANIEL, MY MOTHER, AND ME.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY MOTHER, ME (THE YOUNGEST OF SEVEN) MY SISTER MARY, MY BROTHER DICK, AND MY SISTER CAROLINE.

MORE MEMORIES, WHICH ARE GOOD ONES, AND HOW I LOVE LOOKING BACK AND REMEMBERING THE GOOD OLD DAYS. I LOOK AT MY MOTHER, OH, HOW I LOVED HER SO. SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR US. WHEN WE CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL SHE WOULD BE SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE HAVING HER CUP OF TEA. MY DAD WORKED VERY HARD, AND PROVIDED WELL FOR ALL OF US. HE WAS VERY LONELY WHEN MY MOTHER PASSED, BUT I LIVED ACROSS THE STRET FROM HIM, AND WE GOT ALONG REALLY WELL, MY CHILDREN BROUGHT HIM A LOT OF HAPPINESS. I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A LOVELY HOME, AND I'LL ALWAYS CHERISH THAT.

VALENTINE MEMORIES

THE YEAR WAS 1989, THAT'S OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO. MY SISTER CAROLINE MADE ME THIS BEAUTIFUL HEART SHAPED VALENTINE BOX FOR ALL MY TRINKET'S. I REMEMBERED THE DAY IT ARRIVED IN THE MAIL. IT MADE ME SO HAPPY, CAROLINE KNEW IT WOULD, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH VALENTINE'S DAY MEANS TO ME.
SHE TOOK ONE OF THE DOILIES MY GRANDMOTHER CROCHET, AND MADE A SACHET OUT OF IT. CAROLINE ALSO LOVED TO CROCHET, SHE PUT THE LACE ON THE HANKIES, REMEMBERING BACK WHEN WE WERE KIDS, WE USED HANKIES INSTEAD OF TISSUES. I EVEN KEPT THE NOTE SHE TUCKED AWAY IN THE HEART. I LOVE LOOKING BACK TO THOSE DAYS SO LONG AGO. THEY MAKE ME HAPPY.MY SISTER CAROLINE DIED A FEW YEARS AGO. I MISS HER SO VERY MUCH, WE WERE VERY CLOSE, AND SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME WHEN I NEEDED HER. YESTERDAY, JANUARY 14, WAS HER BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE.

CHRISTMAS TEA

HERE ARE A FEW PHOTO'S FROM OUR CHRISTMAS TEA:
THIS IS OUR CHRISTMAS TEA GET-TOGETHER. IT WAS A LOVELY DAY, YUMMY FOOD, AND GREAT COMPANY.

IS IT SPRING YET?

I DO LOVE THE WINTER MONTHS, CHRISTMAS COMES, AND IT'S WARM AND COZY WITH THE CHRISTMAS TREE, AND ALL THE LIGHTS, YUMMY COOKIES, AND A NICE CUP OF TEA. BUT, THAN IT'S ALL OVER AND ANOTHER YEAR BEGINS. THE WEATHER GETS COLDER AND COLDER, AND THE SNOW GETS DEEPER AND DEEPER. I LOVE THE SNOW, BUT NOW I WISH FOR THE SPRING. WHAT IS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A CROCUS PEEKING UP FROM THE SNOW, IT'S THE SIGN OF SPRING. THE TREES START TO BUD, AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THE FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING. I KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A BIT MORE OF WINTER TO GO, BUT I THOUGHT A FEW FLOWERS WOULD BRIGHTEN OUR DAY.





I PICKED UP THESE BEAUTIFUL ORANGE ROSES AT THE GROCERY STORE FOR MY DAUGHTER. THEY JUST HAD THE
TOUCH OF SPRING.

ARE WE EVER SATISFIED WITH THE WEATHER? I LOVE IT WHEN IT SNOWS, BUT THEN IT'S TOO COLD, SO THEN I WANT THE WARMER WEATHER, WILL I EVER MAKE UP MY MIND, PROBABLY NOT, BUT THAT'S OK. SO BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE WILL HEAR THE ROBINS CHIRPING OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW. SO, GRAB A BLANKET AND A GOOD BOOK, AND A NICE CUP OF TEA, AND CURL UP ON THE COUCH, MAYBE WHEN YOU FINISH READING THE BOOK YOU'LL LOOK UP AND SPRING WILL BE HERE.

A CARD FROM JENNY.....................

IT WAS FATHER'S DAY 2007, AND I WANTED TO MAKE MY HUSBAND "BILL" SOMETHING FROM JENNY. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND I FIGURED I WOULD MAKE A CARD, WITH A FEW PAGES OF PICTURES. SO I GATHERED SOME PICTURES TOGETHER, COPIED THEM, AND PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER, WITH LITTLE SAYINGS, BOWS, AND BUTTERFLIES. IT WAS THE PERFECT GIFT FOR HIM.
IT BROUGHT HIM LOTS OF JOY. THAT SAME YEAR BILL PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER, 2007.


TO: DAD, HAPPY FATHERS DAY, LOVE JENNY



IT'S HALLOWEEN, AND JENNY IS IN THE REHAB CENTER.
SHE WAS DOROTHY, FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ.
BILL LOVED THE CARD, OF COURSE JENNY DIDN'T MAKE IT BY HERSELF, BUT HER LOVE FOR HER DAD WAS THERE. I REMEMBER THE YEAR BEFORE, IT WAS FATHER'S DAY 2006, I DREW STEMS AND LEAVES OF FLOWERS ON A BLANK CARD, THEN TOOK JENNY'S FINGER, AND DIPPED IT IN WATER COLOR PAINT, AND WE MADE PETAL'S. IT CAME OUT REALLY NICE, HE WAS REALLY TAKEN BACK, IT BROUGHT TEARS TO HIS EYES. I PACKED THE CARD AWAY, SORRY I CAN'T SHOW YOU. BUT, IF I COME ACROSS IT I'LL POST IT. IT'S TOUGH, BUT LIFE GOES ON, WE ALL KNOW THAT.

MY SON BILLY

THIS IS MY SON BILLY, BORN AUGUST 25, 1966, AND DIED SEPTEMBER 6, 1987.


BILLY WAS 21 YEARS OLD WHEN HE HAD HIS CAR ACCIDENT, AND DIED ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS A WONDERFUL BOY, DID WHAT HE WAS TOLD, AND HE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS. I HAVE TO SAY, I LOOK BACK THROUGH THE YEARS WHEN BILLY WAS GROWING UP, AND NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH HIM. I WAS VERY PROUD OF HIM. HE WAS A VERY GOOD ARTIST, HE LOVED TO BUILD THINGS, AND LOVED WORKING IN THE GARDEN WITH HIS FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER. HE LOVED TO GO FISHING, HE WAS IN CUB SCOUTS, AND BOY SCOUTS. I THOUGHT LOSING MY MOM AND DAD WAS DEVASTATING, BUT LOSING A CHILD, THE FEELING IS TO HARD TO DESCRIBE. BUT, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON. IT'S BEEN 22 YEARS SINCE HIS PASSING, AND IT WAS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. I MISS HIM WITH ALL MY HEART. IT WAS VERY HARD FOR MY HUSBAND BILL, BUT THEY ARE TOGETHER NOW, AND THAT MAKES IT A TINY BIT BETTER.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.....................RIZZI

MY JENNY

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY DAUGHTER, JENNIFER (JENNY.) SHE JUST TURNED 33 YEARS OLD ON DECEMBER 18, 2009. SHE WAS A DARLING LITTLE GIRL, SHE LOVED HER BABY DOLLS, SHE JOINED BALLET, PLAYED SOCCER, AND SHE LOVED TO BABY-SIT.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL SHE WENT TO BURLINGTON COUNTY COLLEGE, SHE WANTED TO BE A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST SO SHE SWITCH COLLEGES AND SHE DECIDED TO GO TO GEORGIAN COURT COLLEGE, IT WAS AN ALL GIRL CATHOLIC COLLEGE. IT WAS HIGHLY RATED, AND SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. THE GROUNDS WERE OUTSTANDING. THERE WERE GARDENS,LAKES, AND LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL STATUES. IT WAS SO RELAXING FOR THE STUDENTS.

WELL, SHE HAD A FEW MORE MONTHS BEFORE SHE GRADUATED, WHEN ON A STORMY MORNING ON HER WAY TO CLASS SHE HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT. THE OTHER CAR HIT HER TWICE, THE ROADS WERE VERY DANGEROUS WITH THE WEATHER. SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, BUT THE JARRING OF THE ACCIDENT SHOOK HER BACK AND FORTH. SHE DIDN'T BREAK ANY BONES, SHE HAD A TINY SCRATCH ON HER FACE.

WHEN MY DAUGHTER JACKIE AND I GOT TO THE TRAUMA CENTER SHE WAS IN A COMA AND HER CONDITION WAS VERY SERIOUS. WE WERE ALL IN SHOCK, LIKE I WAS DREAMING. IT WAS HOURS BEFORE THE DOCTORS NEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH JENNY. WELL, THE DOCTOR'S TOLD US IT WAS TBI (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.)

THEY REALLY DIDN'T THINK SHE WOULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT, THERE WAS A LOT OF PRAYING THAT NIGHT. GOD HEARD US, AND SHE DID MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT.

AFTER A FEW MONTHS IN A COMA, SHE STARTED WAKING UP, BUT WAS NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING, OR ANYONE.

THE DOCTOR'S COULDN'T DO ANYMORE FOR HER SO SHE WAS SENT TO VIRTUA REHAB CENTER. SHE NEEDED MORE HELP, SO I STARTED SEARCHING AND I FOUND MOSS REHAB, IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. AFTER PULLING A FEW STRINGS WE FINALLY GOT HER IN, BUT IT TOOK MONTHS. SHE STAYED AT MOSS FOR A WHILE, THEY DID A LOT OF TESTING, AND LOTS OF REHABILITATION. JENNY'S INJURY WAS IN THE LOWER PART OF HER BRAIN IN THE BACK. SOMETHING THAT COULDN'T BE FIXED. IT WAS VERY HARD TO HEAR THAT, BUT WE HAD TO ACCEPT IT, AND MOVE ON. SO SHE WAS SENT BACK TO VIRTUA, AND THEY WORKED WITH HER EVERYDAY, MOSS TAUGHT US HOW TO WORK WITH HER AND GIVE HER PHYSICAL THERAPY. THAT WENT ON FOR A WHILE, AND WE WANTED TO BRING HER HOME. SO MY DAUGHTER SAID "MOVE IN WITH US, WE'LL BUILD ON AND WE ALL CAN TAKE CARE OF JENNY." WELL THAT DAY DID COME, WE BUILT ON A BEAUTIFUL ROOM WITH LOTS OF WINDOWS, AND A SUN PORCH. JENNY HAS 5 NURSES THAT TAKES CARE OF HER. MY DAUGHTER JACKIE ALSO CARES FOR JENNY, SHE IS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE NURSES. IT'S NOT EASY TURNING JENNY, SHE IS DEAD WEIGHT, AND IT'S TO HARD FOR ME TO DO. BUT, I AM THERE FOR HER.

WHILE SHE WAS AT

MOSS SHE HAD MANY TESTS DONE, SHE IS IN A WHEELCHAIR, SHE CANNOT MOVE BY HERSELF, OR TALK , SHE DOES UNDERSTAND YOU, SHE WATCHES TV ALL THE TIME, THAT IS ONE THING SHE REALLY ENJOYS. SHE KNOWS WHEN THINGS ARE FUNNY, SAD, AND SHE LOVES TO LISTEN TO US TALK AND BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS, IF IT'S A FUNNY CONVERSATION SHE IS RIGHT THERE ENJOYING IT TOO. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY...............RIZZI

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A NICE NEW YEARS EVE. WE JUST HAD A FAMILY PARTY, THE KIDS EVEN WERE ABLE TO STAY AWAKE, AND SEE THE BALL DROP. SO GOOD-BYE 2009, AND WELCOME 2010. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS. I AM STARTING A 2010 JOURNEL SO THAT WILL BE MY FIRST ENTRY. I JUST HOPE I CAN CARRY THEM OUT THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR, WE'LL SEE. TODAY IS A QUIET DAY, JACKIE IS MAKING A NICE ITALIAN DINNER. WE USUALLY HAVE HAM, OR PORK, BUT WE DECIDED TO HAVE ITALIAN FOOD WHICH WE ALL LOVE. I STARTED TAKING MY LITTLE TREE DOWN, AND DECORATIONS WHICH I HAVE IN MY BEDROOM . YEARS AGO I LEFT EVERYTHING UP UNTIL LITTLE CHRISTMAS. WE HAD SOME MORE SNOW, NOT MUCH, AND IT'S STILL ON THE GROUND. THE WEATHER IS VERY COLD. THE KIDS RETURN TO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH, MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S ARE ALL GOING TO NEW YORK CITY TO AMERICAN GIRL DOLL PLACE, WHERE THEY WILL HAVE LUNCH, SEE A SHOW, AND SHOP IN THE AMERICAN GIRL DOLL STORE. THEY ARE SO EXCITED. SO, "HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND MAY YOUR NEW YEAR BRING YOU, GOOD HEALTH, WEALTH, AND LOTS OF HAPPINESS." THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.............RIZZI